Seat construction for automotive vehicles



y 1935. H. A. ROBINSON, SR l 2,009,016-

SEAT CONSTRUGTION'FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES Filed 001;. 20, 1935 INVENTOR 170M A. fioaxwo'mJe. BY

TTORNEYS Patented July 23, 1935 UNITED STATES SEAT CONSTRUCTION FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES Hugh A. Robinson, Sr.

, Coral Gables. Fla, as-' signor to Curtiss Aerocar Company, Inc., Coral Gables, Fla., a. corporation of Florida Application October 20,

1 Claim.

This invention relates to seats for automotive vehicles such as automobile semi-trailers, busses, aeroplanes, boats, and the like, in which wide adaptability of purpose combined with lightness in weight is desirable. One object of the invention is to provide a seat construction of great simplicity which will permit the seats being used as couches or beds when the vehicle is employed for night travel. A further object is to produce a chair construction having novel and simple means for holding the chair back in different positions of inclination or at either end of the seat, so that the passenger may adjust the chair readily to the inclination desired or may face in either direction. Additional objects will appear from the following description and claim.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing two chairs in spaced relation, and illustrating the Way in which the chair parts may be manipulated for use as a seat;

Fig. 2 is a similar View showing the two chairs arranged for use as a couch or bed;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of one of the chair backs with the upholstery partly broken away;

Fig. 4 is a section, on an enlarged scale and partly broken away, on line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a plan View of one of the seat frames; and

Fig. 6 is a section on line B6 of Fig. 5.

The chairs are all identical in construction and are spaced apart as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 a distance suflicient so that when the back of one chair is let down it forms a continuation of the seat cushions enabling the composite structure to be used as a bed or couch. Each chair has two similar members Ill forming the side members of the seat supporting frame and each being preferably formed of sheet metal folded on itself and welded as at ll (Fig. 4). The two side members are connected by cross-pieces I 2 (Fig. 5) welded in place as at i3. These cross-pieces are preferably made in angle-iron form so that a flat top is presented with a strengthening rib positioned vertically so as to bear the load. Connecting the cross-pieces are longitudinal struts I4, also in the form of angle irons with a portion of the fiat top l5 cut away at each end to form an extended portion l6 of the upright flange passing under the fiat top of the cross-piece. The cross-piece and the strut are welded together as at I! and I8, a unitary structure with its upper fiat surface all in one plane being produced thereby. The seat cushions l9, which may be of any standard or desirable construction, are placed 1933, Serial No. 694,373

upon this unitary structure between the side members Ill. The entire seat structure is held at a suitable elevation by suitable legs secured in place by welding or riveting and screwed in place on the floor.

The chair backs are built up around a U- shaped metal frame 25 preferably formed of two lengths of tubing welded together at 26 (Fig. 3). Spaced somewhat from the free ends of this frame is a cross-piece 2? bearing a shallow U- shaped member 23, all of these parts being preferably welded together. A lattice formed of metal strips 29 riveted together at 30 is suspended within the U-frame by springs 3i, and serves as a base upon which the upholstery 32 can be built. This upholstery extends around the U-frame 25 and around the member 28, leaving the ends of the larger frame projecting at 33. These pro jecting portions are adapted to fit within holes 34 formed in the upper corners of the members l0. Due to the spacing apart of the side members ill by the cross pieces l2 the holes 34 are maintained. as shown in Fig. 5, at a proper distance to receive the projecting leg portions 33 of the chair back frame. As will be apparent from a comparison of Figs. 1 and 3, the member 28 lies between the side members l0 when the projecting portions 33 are received within the holes 34. The holes 34 open into the hollow inside of the side member, permitting the frame extensions to take up any desired position therein.

To hold the extensions in their selected position pins 35 and 36 extend between the Walls of the box-like side member at each end. The back may be held in either of the full line positions of Fig. 1 by inserting the extensions 33 between the pin 35 and the upwardly slanting walls of the side members or between the pins 35 and 36 respectively. It may also be placed in the position like that shown in broken lines in Fig. 1 by transferring it to the other end of the side member. Furthermore, the back may be laid down as in Fig. 2, the extensions 33 in this case abutting pins 31 which in this case act only as means for limiting the longitudinal inward movement of the extensions 33, the back being held in proper angular position by its weight and the bearing of the extensions against the inside of the tops of the side members. The seat I9 is moved longitudinally on the members l2 and I4 to accommodate the various positions of the back, as will be clearly apaprent from Figs. 1 and 2. In order to provide a smooth and strong support for the back where it enters the side member, lips 38 are bent outwardly adjacent the holes 34, providing a curved contact for the extensions 33 in any angular position of the back.

The arms of the chair are carried by metal brackets 48, of angle iron cross section, each of which may be secured as by welding or riveting to the upper side of the side member IS. The flanges of the angles point inwardly and towards the seat cushions so as to receive and frame a block 4! which supports upholstery stufiing 42 enclosed in suitable covering material 43. The padded side of the block is disposed adjacent the seat cushions, while the other side is bordered by the inwardly projecting flanges of the bracket 46 so as to present an exceptionally neat appearance. Screws extending through the walls of bracket 4!! may conveniently be used to hold the block in place. Surmcunting the bracket All is an arm support 46 preferably of wood and of a downwardly opening channel formation. Upon the top of this block, secured as by means of staples, is a strip of what is known in the upholstery art as a Marshall spring, composed of a series of helical springs 41 enclosed in a fabric envelope 58. This spring unit is surrounded by padding 49 which in turn is enclosed in a suitable covering 50 held in place as by tacks 5|. The arm support 46 and the parts carried by it are assembled and placed upon the bracket 40, being held in position by screws 52 passing through holes 53 in the frame. The block 4! is then put in place, concealing the screws 52 and giving a neatly finished appearance to the assembly.

I claim:

A convertible chair construction comp-rising a seat supporting frame having a central seat supporting portion and upstanding hollow side members provided with openings adjacent their upper corners, a seat mounted upon the seat supporting portion of the frame and between the side members, a back formed of a U-shaped frame, having a cross-piece connecting the sides of said frame and spaced from the free ends of the frame so as to leave free projecting leg portions thereon, said back frame also including a shallow U-shaped member attached to said crosspiece between and spaced from said projecting leg portions, upholstery covering said back frame leaving the projecting leg portions uncovered, the projecting leg portions of the back frame being spaced apart a sufficient distance to enter the openings in the side members of the seat support-- ing frame, and a pair of horizontally aligned pins extending between the walls of each side member at points spaced from the corner opening to engage the projecting leg portions of the back frame, the back being held in one position of inclination by engagement of each leg between one end wall of a side frame and the adjacent pin, in another position of inclination by engagement of each leg between the pins, and in a horizontal position aligned with the seat by engagement of the legs with the under sides of the top walls of the side members.

HUGH A. ROBINSON, SR. 

